PARADISE, N.L. — Penny Barnes was having a rotten day.
Having just spoken to her husband on the phone about the latest spike of COVID-19 cases in the metro region Wednesday, she decided to put on her boots and coat and get some fresh air.
“I was ready to explode,” the Paradise mother of two teens said. “I just needed to get outside and take some deep breaths. What’s going on here now, all these cases (of COVID-19), it’s a lot to take.
“I needed to calm down.”
As she was clearing her driveway of snow, she noticed two young girls walk past her house and head to the community mailboxes across the street. She had recognized them from the neighbourhood and knew they lived nearby, but being fairly new to the area, Barnes didn’t know their names or their families.
“I just figured they were checking the mail for their parents, but they were there a long time,” Barnes said. “They knew I was looking at them. I knew they were doing something because they stood back and took a picture of the mailboxes.”
When the girls left, Barnes walked over to the mailboxes to have a look.
What she saw melted her heart, she said.
Not sure who the two sweet young girls were that did this. But I saw them:) I see you! And thank you! Wouldn't take a...
Posted by Penny Barnes on Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Scattered across the three sections of mailboxes were more than a dozen colourful pieces of paper with hand-written messages that included, “Stay strong,” “Be safe,” “You got this,” “Be happy” and “Stay safe.” Written in green, blue, yellow and red marker, the notes were stuck to the boxes and decorated with hearts, dots and happy faces.
“I thought, my God, how precious is that? It really was adorable,” Barnes said. “They obviously took the time to hand-write these notes, colour them and cut them out. It was just the sweetest thing and after such a terrible day, it was perfect timing.
“It was exactly what I needed.”
Barnes took a photo of the messages on the mailboxes and posted it to her Facebook page and the Paradise community Facebook page. It has received hundreds of responses from residents who were touched to see such a kind and thoughtful gesture.
“Warms my heart!” Bev Burden Richard said under the post. “We need kindness like this. Thank you, girls. Blessings to you.”
Trev Snow commented, “Awesome stuff. Kids sending love throughout our community!!”
Rosalind Harnum-Meadus said, “How sweet of them to be thinking about others. ”
Carol Barrett added, “Such a sweet idea. We all need encouragement right now as we go back into this pandemic.”
Barnes said she was too shy to knock on doors to try to find the girls, but she hoped that by posting to social media, someone would know them and pass along a message to them — thank you.
“I just really want them to know how much I appreciated what they did, how much we all appreciate it,” said Barnes, adding that no one has identified them. “I walked away feeling so much better. It put a huge smile on my face, and we need more of that.
“Emotions are running high lately and there’s just so much negativity. People sometimes forget their words and forget to be kind.
“These girls showed how important it is to be kind, now more than ever.”